New Testimonials from My Latest Roster of Passing Students for February 2017

“The first time
I took the bar exam I felt that I did every thing I could to prepare. I
completed each assignment Barbri gave me, and walked into the exam feeling
ready for whatever it could throw at me. When I checked my results and
read the dreaded “this name does not appear on the pass list” I didn’t know
what to do.I scheduled a call with
Steve and felt he had what I needed to get my name on the pass list.
There was a lot of work to be done, but with his unique approach I made the
necessary changes. As we worked together I saw my writing improve every
week. Steve’s method stripped away the unnecessary fluff in other bar
programs, and really focused on what I needed to know. He kept me
accountable, helped me develop a well-planned strategy for taking the test, and
was the extra motivation I needed to put in the hard work.Looking back, Barbri gave many unnecessary assignments
that didn’t move me closer to passing the bar. It felt great to check the
box and move on to my next day’s work, but I wasn’t focusing on the areas I
really needed to. Barbri was a shotgun approach. They throw every
thing at you and hope some of it will help. Steve’s method is like a
sniper. Focused and effective. For me, that made all the
difference.”--Alex Murer (University of San Diego School of Law)

“While many reputable bar study
programs rely on volume of material and provide studies with little insight,
support, or constructive criticism, Steve gets results with purposeful
assignments and extensive, thoughtful feedback. Steve's approach allows his
students to fine tune their skills, understand the questions posed to them, and improve
their self-awareness and confidence with respect to the exam. He is
committed to his students and supports them every step of the way. I wish that
I had found Steve and invested in his services from the start--he was the
winning edge that I needed to pass the bar!”--Chelsea S. (UC Irvine Law School)

“I finally passed after failing the bar
multiple times! The decision to hire Steve as my coach made all the
difference. I needed guidance on my essay and PT writing because while my
MBE scores were steadily rising, my essay and PT scores were not getting any
better. During our session, Steve painstakingly reviewed each of my
essays line by line. I was able to fix bad habits and also learned
strategies to save time. Steve is a no-nonsense coach who is focused on
seeing you pass. If you need someone to hold your hand and listen to your
feelings, he is not the guy. If you want to work hard and get results,
this is the coach for you. If you failed the last bar, don't wallow in
your sadness, get yourself someone who can pull you over the finish line once
and for all. For me, that person was Steve and I will always be grateful
to him. Wishing you all the best!”--Jenny S. (La
Verne College of Law)

“The Strategic Bar Coach transformed my approach to the bar
exam, which I believe was the only way I could have passed on my second
attempt. The first time, I did Barbri, completed 100% of the assigned
work, and studied for 12 hours/day for six weeks. While I knew all the
law I needed to know to pass, I knew comparatively little about bar exam
test-taking strategy, which proved equally, if not more important.Steve was an excellent "coach," in
every sense of the word. He has a no-bullshit, kick-in-the-ass approach
that absolutely gets results. Specifically, I struggled with writing
quickly and finishing the written portion of the exam within the time
allotted. Steve reviews and analyzes your writing line-by-line to ensure
that you are not wasting time including anything that will not directly
increase your point score. I came to realize that this exam is really not
about how smart you are, it is much more about how you execute. Steve
teaches you to execute like a bar grader filling out a sample answer key.
I am very glad I trusted in Steve and his methods. He helped me close the
book on this exam and move on with my life. I will always be grateful for
that.”—Daniel B. (UCLA School of Law)

“It took me 6 times to take the bar exam.
The bar exam was an absolute nightmare, and seemed to be never-ending. I took
Barbri, Kaplan, and even my own mixture of both. Nothing seemed to work. I was
referred to Steve by another attorney and coincidentally other people I knew
had used Steve as well. Going with Steve was the best investment I ever made.
He cares very much about his students, but is a no bullsh** kind of guy. Steve
will tell you how it is, which is surprisingly something no other bar company
ever did. Steve is very regimented and has a “strategic” system that works!!!
He gives you all the material you need, lays out your schedule, and goes over
all the material “line by line” (literally). I am extremely thankful and
forever indebted for all of Steve’s help. Steve is the way to go.” --James E.
(Whittier Law School)

“Steve
Zikman is the number one reason I passed the February 2017 California bar. In
particular, he helped me raise my MBE score to a passing score within a couple
of weeks (something I thought was impossible at the time). His structure and
overall methodology was key to helping me understand why I was getting
questions wrong, and it helped me rewire the way my brain was thinking.
Moreover, Steve's essay structure was a major reason I was able to stay
organize and answer the question directly. Additionally, Steve provided great
individual feedback and I always felt he was heavily invested in my success. I
highly recommend Steve to anyone who believes they need help and feel hopeless,
because Steve will re-instill that hope and ensure that you pass.”--Ricardo L.
(University of California, Irvine School of Law)

“After failing the CA Bar exam three times, I knew that I
needed to drastically change my approach. I chose to work with Steve after
reading his great reviews online and talking to him about his program. I really
liked how Steve met with me via telephone, which allowed me to spend that
valuable time studying rather than driving across town to meet up with him.
Steve simplified the process by providing me with an organized and formulaic
approach to both the PTs and the Essays. He ensured that I started practicing immediately,
which was something I failed to do prior to working with him. By the time the
Bar exam rolled around, I knew exactly how to structure my essay and what the
graders were looking for, regardless of the subject. Steve provided me with
essay tips and attack plans for exam day, which were very helpful.
Additionally, Steve also helped me improve my MBEs through his drilldown
process, which was intensive but invaluable. Lastly, Steve checked in with me
throughout the exam in case I had any questions or needed any advice. Hiring
Steve was the best decision I have ever made. Give him a call, you will not
regret it.”—M.N. (Loyola Law School)

“Steve's
techniques armed me with the confidence I needed to pass the California bar
exam! I struggled the most with multiple choice, although there was obviously
room for improvement in my writing as well. Specifically, Steve uses an online
multiple choice program that commercial bar preparation programs do not, with
actual licensed questions from previous bar exams. Steve tracked my progress
online and forced me to do double the number of multiple choice questions than
my commercial program asked of me. He tracked my specifics, including at what
point during multiple choice questions I was most frequently answering the
question correctly (i.e. at the 1 minute mark) and at what point my accuracy
level decreased. As for writing, his road-map approach to essays and PTs,
focused on what the bar exam grader actually wanted to see to help you pass the
exam. It focused my writing so that I was truly answering the call of the
question, something that commercial bar preparation programs do not teach you,
let alone focus on. He went line-by-line through my essays and PTs to show me
what was working and what wasn't. Further, his outlines provide specific tips
of key words and/or concepts to hit on to impress the bar exam graders. Steve
focused on my weaknesses but also highlighted my strong suits to re-build my
confidence. Overall, if you are dedicated to the program, Steve is inherently
dedicated to you and your success!” –S.M. (University of San Diego School of
Law)

“I am incredibly grateful to Steve for helping me pass the
bar exam. I tried different methods for preparing for the bar, including a
bar prep course and studying on my own without taking any courses. But it was
the collaboration with Steve that enabled me to acquire the ultimate prize.
Steve was able to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses early on and tailor the
program accordingly. I would sometimes panic when he would grade my essay with
a low score. But he would always remind me that there’s still plenty of time
and the memorization portion comes in the end, so many of the mistakes I made
when writing that particular essay I won’t make on the exam. Surely, he was
right. Some of the essays with similar topics in which I scored below 65 during
practice showed up on the actual bar exam. Had it not been for his advice, I
would probably panic. But instead, I walked out on the last day of the exam
knowing that I had passed. Lastly, make no mistake it’s a two-way street. As
the test-taker, you must be fully committed to giving it all you've got; otherwise, you’ll
be wasting both your time and Steve’s time. Just because he is a phenomenal
tutor does not mean you will automatically pass. At times you might feel
exhausted or question his methods, but you must stick to the game plan and do
as he instructs. All in all, it’s the best investment you can make both for
preparing for the bar and being confident on the day you walk into the
exam.”—Haik C. (Thomas Jefferson School of Law)

“Hiring Steve was a game changer. I had
taken the bar three times prior. Twice with a structured test prep course and
once on my own. Things just didn’t click for me no matter how hard I tried. I
took amazing notes and studied 10-14 hours each day. Still I failed. But Steve
provided the tools to make things click. He really broke down how to write
essays and gave me assignments for the MBE that were manageable.The notion of quality over quantity
definitely rang true when studying with Steve. I actually ended up doing less
work than I did on my prior attempts, spending more time studying my mistakes
than anything else. One of the things I valued the most was the in depth essay
review process. We would spend a week on one essay, revising the same essay a
couple times before he said I was good to go. And the feedback was delivered
right away and consisted of concrete information I could actually use to make
my essays better. This was stark difference compared to the typical and useless
“more analysis” comment, “incorrect law” comment, or a grade you receive two
weeks later with no feedback.He also
provides extensive notes. His notes were very helpful in the essay practice of
the studying process. And I used my own adjusted notes for memorizing since I
memorize in a particular way. In addition to Steve, I had to approach the bar
with a different mindset; one that took away the stress, pressure, and anxiety
that governed the last exams. Combined, everything finally began to click, and
as strange as it sounds, even for me, I found the last bar extremely easy and
fun to do. For the first time I walked out knowing I passed. I highly recommend
hiring Steve to get you through this unfortunate rite of passage.”--AC (Harvard
Law School)

“After receiving
my results from the July 2016 bar exam it was clear that I needed to improve my
essays and PTs. Steve was able to hone in on my weaknesses within a short
amount of time. Steve provided me with a game plan and structure for the essays
that assisted my analysis and improved my writing to be more concise. Steve’s
method and organization for the PT was incredibly helpful in addressing the
call of the question and keeping me focused throughout the long PT. Steve’s
critiques and comments were direct and to the point; there was no beating
around the bush or wasting of valuable time. His constructive criticism immensely
improved my essay and PT writing. After passing the February 2017, CA bar, I
would highly recommend Steve Zikman as a bar tutor.”--
Donna K. (California Western School of Law)

“Being unsuccessful after two attempts, I knew I needed to
change my approach and preparation to this exam. I was weak in all three areas
of the exam, but not by much. I just needed that 'extra push.' I found Steve
after searching online for personal tutors and I subsequently reached out to a
few of his former students. Steve's method completely changed my writing style
and made me understand how to present the information accurately and concisely
to the examiners. Further, I began to understand why I was answering MBE
questions incorrectly and how to avoid making the same mistake in the future.
Steve's approach to conquering the exam is precise, thorough and effective. It
simply works. Beyond that, Steve instilled the confidence in me to overcome the
mental hurdle that the exam poses. I highly recommend Steve to any student, regardless
of their weaknesses. I am finally on the pass list, and you will be too.”
--E.F. (Southwestern Law School)

“After taking the California Bar exam 4 times and hiring
Steve twice, I am proud to say that I passed! Despite my failure on the third
attempt, I do not hold him responsible because my computer crashed. Even still,
I was points away from passing - the closest I had ever been! Learning his
strategy to tackle an essay, PT, or MBE question is the only reason why I was
so successful. The outlines are straightforward, easy to understand and provide
many tips for analysis; The practice essays and PTs are comprehensive, covering
many issues of a given subject; And, the drill-down exercises hone in on
practicing new writing techniques while also providing an opportunity to
understand areas of weakness. What I liked most about Steve is that he holds
you accountable to learn the law and get the work done. Knowing that I had a
scheduled phone call with him motivated me to get up every single morning to study
and not slack off. While his services are pricey, there is a reason for that.
He will teach you effective and time-saving strategies that will ultimately
help you finally defeat the California Bar exam.”--Justin A. Hall (Thomas
Jefferson School of Law)

“After multiple attempts at the California Bar Exam, I
needed a tutor who would personalize a program to my individual needs. Steve
went above and beyond to help me. He helped me work through the frustrations I
had when I was writing good essays, but just couldn't seem to make it over the
hump. The MBE was my weakness, but with Steve's customized feedback and MBE
Drilldowns, my scores continued to improve. It made all the difference to have
Steve in my corner during the exam. His phone calls at lunch during the exam
gave me the motivation and encouragement I needed to get through the PTs in the
afternoon. Steve also helped me change my attitude and find my inner fire. I
was able to go in to the exam with a fighting attitude which made all the
difference for me. I couldn't have done it without all of Steve's
help!”--Olivia S. (University of San Diego School of Law)

“If you are a practicing attorney and you
want to pass the California Bar Exam the first time, you should hire Steve
Zikman. I was not a traditional bar examinee as I had been practicing law
for nearly 10 years. I took the July 2016 Attorney Bar Exam and enrolled
in a traditional bar review course. The traditional course was not geared
for the Attorney Bar Exam, and I did not pass the July 2016 bar exam. I knew I
had to find another method, and I found Steve Zikman. Steve is an excellent bar
exam coach. Steve has a very strict method that he instills from day one with
his coaching. When I sat for the February 2017 bar exam, I was extremely
prepared and confident because I had a plan coming in with Steve's
coaching. Steve demands that you follow his method, and I know that it
was his method that helped me pass the February 2017 California Bar Exam. Trust
the method and you too will pass the California bar exam.” --P.D. (Seattle
University School of Law)

“After having
taken the bar four times and failing four times I knew that I needed to do
something different. I found Steve on Google and decided to give him a
call and talk to him about my options. He gave me a number of different
packages that I could choose from and I decided to pick the one that was best
geared towards my problem areas which were the essays and the MBEs. The
outlines that Steve provided helped me stay focused on what was important and
what wasn't. His technique for writing the essays made my writing very clear
and concise and made it easy to outline the question in a manner that would
cover all of the elements. I was having an extremely hard time with the
multiple-choice questions and Steve helped me see my problem areas and where I
needed more practice and help. I had done fairly well on the PTs so I decided
to do a smaller package regarding those, and I'm sure that Steve's help and
techniques help push me over the edge and solidify those on the bar. I had a
tutor previous to Steve and also took Barbri to no avail. Steve taught me to
have confidence in my writing and in the techniques he was teaching me and it
all paid off at the end because I finally passed the bar!”--Mary Girges
(Southwestern Law School)

“After not passing the bar the first time around by a few
points, I knew I had to do something different because Barbri did not work for
me. After searching for a few tutors and talking with each of them, I decided
to go with Steve. His method is very straight-forward and clear because he
teaches you how to organize your essay with clear headings. Barbri did not help
me systematically organize my essay because I was throwing out elements and not
analyzing the facts under each element. However, Steve’s method helped me break
down my essays in such a way that helped me analyze each element specifically
and thoroughly. Steve’s ‘get to the point’ personality and way of teaching
really made it very clear for me because I knew exactly what I needed to focus
on and what needed to be improved as I completed each assignment. He was very
tough on me and never sugar-coated anything, but I think that is truly what
made me pass the second time around. Specifically, it helped me stay on top of
all my assignments, diligently correct my mistakes, organize my responses to
get a 65-75 on each essay, and stick to my schedule. Lastly, my weakest subject
was the MBEs. Steve introduced me to AdaptiBar, which I highly recommend to any
re-taker or even first time taker. I did a handful of drilldowns with Steve and
even though it was a very long and tedious process, my MBE score got
significantly higher. As a re-taker, I not only had to study diligently but
also smartly. I do not think Barbri or any commercial bar course really taught
me how to study ‘smartly’ in regards to the essays or MBE’s. However, after
every session with Steve, I knew that I was studying smarter because I finally
understood what the reader was looking for or wanted in an essay (which is
key). Without Steve, I don’t think I would have passed this bar exam because I
would have made the same mistakes over again and stuck to a commercial bar prep
course without taking the time to actually figure out what the graders want.”
--Radha K. (University of San Diego School of Law)

“After
failing the California Bar Exam for a third time, it was clear that I needed
help to demonstrate my legal knowledge better on the written exam. Steve
explained in extensive detail what I should do for each part of the written
exam and what I should not do, from the introduction to the analysis to the
conclusion. No detail important for the exam is neglected with Steve. Steve's
approach to the test was thorough and gave me concrete rules to writing that
kept me focused, calm, and collected for the exam. Finally, it is important to
mention that Steve keeps his student on track. When reviewing a specific
written exam with me, Steve provided substantial objective feedback. Steve was
there to remind me that parts of my work were good without neglecting to
mention where I needed to improve. Steve genuinely cares about helping his
students pass the bar exam, and this shows in his program.”—David E. (McGeorge
School of Law, University of the Pacific)

“I failed the bar exam twice and then became busy with work.
The next thing I knew, it had been two years and my moral character was
about to expire so I knew I only had one chance to take the bar exam again. I
was rusty and didn’t remember much because it had been two years. Steve knew
this and helped whip me into shape. He is not a ‘hold-your-hand’-type of tutor.
He is blunt and sometimes brutally honest, but that is the kind of tutor I
needed and many people who didn’t pass the bar need. If you have an ego going
into studying, you need to put it aside and Steve will let you know that. There
were times I questioned his methods, but if it wasn’t for him then I do not
think I would have passed or even received got close. Take it from someone who
wasn’t close to passing, used a different tutor that cost twice as much before
and took two years off, Steve is the tutor you need.”—Ted H. (University of San
Diego School of Law)

“I had taken the CA Bar on 3 prior occasions and came up
just short each time. With each failed attempts, I felt demoralized about
the prospects of ever passing and becoming a licensed attorney. I finally
decided that I may need to seek professional help if I were to pass this
test. I did some research online and asked around to make sure that I
found the perfect tutor/coach. I spoke to several tutors on the phone to
get a sense of how they could help me perform better. When I spoke to
Steve, he made me feel very comfortable. There was a sense of
understanding and compassion as he listened to my previous attempts and offered
advice on how I might do better. By the end of my initial phone call with
Steve, I had decided that I needed his help to pass the bar. He was
polite but stern when we went over the practice essays. Steve encouraged
what I did right and made sure I knew areas where I needed to improve upon.
The essay structure that he taught me made organizing my thoughts and headings
very clear to me as the writer and for potential graders. It was a very
elegant system! I felt more encouraged with each essay that I wrote and
Steve was very accommodating with my work/study schedule. We got through
the subjects and with each essay, I felt more confident about my work
product. My sessions with Steve definitely made me more comfortable with
writing the essay responses and gave me more confidence as I sat for the real
exam. I am very happy I found Steve and would recommend him to anyone who
wants that extra push to passing the exam! Thank you again, Steve!”--Tommy P.

Profile

Steve Zikman, Esq. provides 1-on-1 personalized coaching and tutoring for all sections of the bar exam including Essays, Performance Tests (PTs) and MBEs.

Mr. Zikman is the founder of The Strategic Bar Coach. He was an environmental attorney and mediator, and taught at UCLA and Pepperdine University where he is a member of the Straus Institute's Council of Distinguished Advisors. He is also a bestselling author and editor, certified self-esteem facilitator, and performance coach.

Slaying the Dragon

I was first admitted to the Bar of Ontario (Canada) in 1986 when I passed on my first attempt. The California Bar Exam, however, was a different story.

It took me three times to successfully slay that dragon. I tell you this because, unlike other tutors who made it on the first shot, I had to learn from my mistakes, develop a winning strategy, conquer my demons, and fight like hell to pass that damn exam... just like you.

As a traveler and bestselling author of "Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul," I have learned a lot about the rigors of the road, and the California bar exam is one tough journey.

Indeed, you too will get there and I want to help you reach your destination. I will be your strategic coach, nurturing tutor, and constructive critic for every step of the journey. Together, let’s travel that road to successfully becoming a California attorney.

Steve meeting up with Nelson Mandela during his travels

Testimonials

“Steve coached me by focusing on my strengths and helping me to not overemphasize my weaknesses. It was a completely different approach. I felt that he really cared about me, about how I was doing, and that he really wanted me to succeed.”

“This was my 4th time taking the California bar exam, and my last. Steve’s strategies and personal attention helped me see things in a different light that made all the difference.”

“As an attorney from another jurisdiction, Steve provided me with powerful techniques to prevent me from being too conclusory, especially on the essays.”